When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” (John 13:21)

Jesus Was Upset

The humanity of Jesus is declared throughout scripture. He came into the world as all men. As a little child, He learned how to speak, dress Himself, do chores, learn about God, and everything his brothers and sisters had to learn. When He was hungry, he ate; when He was thirsty, He quenched it with water. Jesus watched the sunrise and the sunset in awe. He was subject to His parents in all things. Jesus was like any other man in the town of Bethlehem, but He was unlike any man on earth.

Many passages speak to the emotions of the Son of God. He was frustrated with His disciples, angry with the Jewish leaders, and compassionate to the dispossessed of society. The final hours of His life were a bundle of emotions pouring out of Jesus as the will of His Father unveiled its divine will. Jesus celebrated His last Passover meal with the twelve apostles. This was unlike what He had done all of His life. The Passover this night would be the most impactful celebration of the life of Jesus.

The Son of God knew His hour had come. He understood the significance of the final Passover, using it as the backdrop to establish part of the foundational teachings of the coming kingdom. The apostles did not know what Jesus meant when He took the bread and the fruit of the vine as symbols of a new covenant. This would only become clearer in a few months. It was the will of God that the memorial feast of the Lord’s Supper would be established on the night Jesus would be betrayed. Passover was a profoundly emotional experience for the participants. Jesus knew that night that Judas would betray him.

As the evening unfolded, Jesus rose and washed the feet of the twelve. Peter would detract from the Lord’s work for a moment, but the hour had come for Jesus to identify the man who would betray Him. Jesus knew Judas had planned on betraying Him to the Chief Priests. John records that after Jesus washed the apostles’ feet and explained what He had done, His mood changed. He was troubled in His spirit. It grieved Jesus for the suffering He was about to experience, but it also grieved Him for what His friend was about to do.

Judas was about to make the greatest mistake of his life. He had agreed to lead the chief priests to Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. It never entered his mind how his actions would turn out. But Jesus was upset at what Judas would do and the sad place Judas found himself. It hurt the heart of Jesus for Judas, a trusted and beloved disciple. Even in His greatest hour, Jesus is concerned about Judas. What was Jesus thinking as He washed the feet of Judas? How could Judas live with himself as the hands of Jesus took his feet and gently washed them and dried them? Judas left that night to betray Jesus – with clean feet.

Jesus tells Judas to do what he must and do it quickly. How sad as Jesus watched Judas stand up and walk out the door. The Lord knew why Judas left, but the eleven thought he had left to buy more food. Jesus heard the steps of Judas go down the stairs and fade into the night. The heart of Jesus wept for Judas. Jesus was troubled in spirit, knowing what was coming.

It is important to see the humanity of Jesus so that men can see the nature of His divinity. God loved the world so much to give His Son as the lamb sacrificed, and the Lamb of God had empathy for sinful men – even Judas. Jesus was fashioned in the likeness of men to show how He can understand our emotions and feelings. He loves you. Jesus died for you. God loves you to offer His Son for your sins. Jesus will rejoice if you obey the word of His Father.